how to read a scholarly article. - library...
TRANSCRIPT
Paul Burden, Library Director
Devry University and Chamberlain College of Nursing, Tinley Park, IL Metro
Lloyd Wedes, Library Director
Devry University and Chamberlain College of Nursing, Houston, TX Metro
How to Read a Scholarly Article.
1 August 5, 2013
How to Read a Scholarly Article.
August 5, 2013 2
August 5, 2013 3
Reading a scholarly or peer reviewed article is done differently than browsing a
magazine from a news stand. Here is a method that is intended teach you how to
efficiently read the document.
First, read the Abstract.
It will summarize the entire article and
give you a good idea if the article is of
interest to you. The Title should match
what the Abstract and article is meant to
discuss.
After reading the Abstract, read the Discussion Section.
It is near the end of the article.
The Discussion Section recaps the entire study.
It will tell you what authors meant to prove and how the experiment ended.
Then read the Conclusion that follows the Discussion. By reading the Abstract, Discussion, and Conclusion in
that order, the overall article is simpler to grasp if you are new to reading scholarly articles.
Below the
Abstract and
Title is the
Introduction
page.
This is where
the authors
write about
some of the
current ideas in
their field.
Here, the
authors
introduce their
own theories.
Go to
Introduction
after reading
the Abstract,
Discussion, and
Conclusion
section.
After the
Introduction,
continue on and
read the Methods
and Materials
section. This
section explains
their testing
methods to prove
or disprove their
new theory.
For example, the
Methods and
Materials area
might discuss
20 student
participants who
listened to loud
music Devices
while answering
20 math
questions to
Determine if
noisy music
really impaired
test taking. (In
other words,
Methods and
Materials discuss
who or what was
tested with a
device for the
experiment.
After the Methods
and Materials
section, the
Results
of the experiment
are discussed.
The Results section may
have a lot of math and
scholarly words, If you
are not good at either, you
can still understand the
article because the text
explains the math as does
the Discussion, and
Conclusion ,sections you
read before the Results
area. After finishing
Results, re-read the article
in order of their proper
arrangement.
August 5, 2013 12
Remember:
The Abstract and the Title best indicate the type
of information found in the article.
Read the Discussion, Conclusion and then the
Introduction sections before reading the Methods
and Material section (middle) and Results area
of the article. That is the more complex section.
By first reading the article in that order, you will
not feel lost in the middle because you will know
how the experiment begins and ends.
If you are not good in math, the formulae will
be explained in a non-math way.
August 5, 2013 13
What do they mean? Scientific and Technical scholarly articles usually follow the same approach, even if you have to read it out of numerical order. Once you understand it follows a certain outline, it becomes easier to read. This is what each part does, learning this makes it all the easier: Abstract and Title: The Abstract should match the Title. Then you will know what is
being discussed. Introduction: ‘This is what people in my profession think about a subject, but here is
my view.’ Methods and Material: ‘To prove it, I have gathered participants or material and
some testing equipment.’ Results: ‘This is the raw data I collected from this experiment.’ Discussion: ‘This is a complete summary of the experiment.’ Conclusion: ‘ This is where I was right and where I was wrong and what might need
to be done by me or others to make it possibly work. ‘ .
August 5, 2013 14
How it looks: Title and Abstract Introduction Methods and Material Results Discussion Conclusion
How it should be read
Title and Abstract Discussion Conclusion Introduction Methods and Material Results
Re-read it in order.
August 5, 2013 15
For more research tutorials, visit
The DeVry Research Help library page:
http://library.devry.edu/research-help.html
Other Questions? Chat with a Librarian at http://librarydb.devry.edu/ask.htm Or contact your local campus librarian http://librarydb.devry.edu/directory.html
August 5, 2013 16
August 5, 2013 17
Article:
Fournier, A., Geller, E., & Fortney, E. (2007). Human-animal interaction in a prison
setting: Impact on criminal behavior, treatment progress, and social skills.
Behavior And Social Issues, 16(1), 89-105. doi:10.5210/bsi.v16i1.385